Terelj in Winter

Terelj in winter is cold, and the tours still go. The UK Foreign Office gives Mongolia a range of +35 C in summer to -40 C in winter and at night, and warns that the weather often changes without warning (November 2026). The day, 2-day and 3-day Terelj tours all showed bookable days on 15 January 2027, Arvaintsatsal LLC’s 3-Day Mini Gobi & Terelj Tour with Camel & Horse Riding among them, from US$495 each for two adults (checked November 2026); one adult booking alone paid US$600 that day.

The calendar is the 3-day tour. Its first night, with a herder family at Elsen Tasarkhai, has no shower and an outdoor pit toilet: worth knowing in January.

How cold Terelj gets

The figures are Mongolia-wide: from +35 C in summer to -40 C in winter and at night, with the most extreme conditions in and around the Gobi and the steppes (UK Foreign Office, November 2026). The same advice notes weather warnings through the year, heavy snow among them, and says large rural areas have no network coverage. Check the forecast the day before, and expect the tour to change its timing if the roads are bad.

The Foreign Office travel advice, updated on 7 August 2026, also reports fuel shortages in Mongolia that may affect flights, road travel and access to some remote areas.

The tours that run in winter

GetYourGuide calendars, November 2026; each card’s from-price is the rate for each of two adults.

Arvaintsatsal LLC’s 2-day tour “will take place whether it rains or shines”, and its night is in a ger or, depending on the weather, a wooden cottage at the camp. On the 2-day tour the camp has electricity and private bathroom facilities.

What to pack

• Warm clothing. On the to-bring lists of the 3-day tours and Amazing Mongolia LLC's day, whatever the month.
• A hat and sunglasses. On the list for MJ Travel LLC's Turtle Rock day.
• Comfortable shoes. For the climb at Turtle Rock and the steps up to Aryabal; they are on the to-bring lists too.
• Cash in tugrik. On a transport-only day, for the tickets, lunch and any ride.

Is it worth it in winter?

If you are in Ulaanbaatar in winter and want to see the country outside the city, the tours run: the day tours are back by mid-afternoon, and the overnight tours sleep in a ger camp. The dunes of the 3-day tour are about 282 km by road from Ulaanbaatar, a long drive in winter. For the longest days outdoors, the usual season is May to September.